TACOMA, Wash. – The Sounders U-23 will welcome back three Sounders Academy alumni for the summer’s Premier Development League season. Jordan Schweitzer, Ian Lange and Michael Gallagher all return for their second year with the U-23’s.

Sounders U-23 Manager, Darren Sawatzky, said, “We welcome back three of our blossoming college players for the summer to further assess and prepare them for their fall college seasons. It is great to watch them grow as they reach for the highest level.”

Jordan Schweitzer, a 19 year old midfielder, played in eight games during the 2013 Sounders U-23 season, concluding with 709 minutes of play.

Currently a sophomore at the University of Denver, Schweitzer started in 19 of Denver’s 20 games, was named to All-Summit League First Team, and recorded two assists. He made an immediate impact at Denver with 17 starts during his freshman year, earning honorable mention for the league.

When asked what it is like to be returning to play as a Sounder again, Schweitzer responded, “It’s almost like Christmas! What more could you want? To come back to Seattle and play with the players and friends you grew up with. There’s a great sense of pride for me in being a Sounders Academy alumni and to play with kids that know what it’s like to wear the jersey and understand how much it means is an added bonus.”

Ian Lange, a 19 year old defender, played in six games during the 2013 U-23 season and ended with 118 minutes of play.

Lange is currently a sophomore at the University of Washington. During Lange’s 2013 season, he appeared in 14 games, including seven starts. After missing a month due to a minor knee surgery, Lange helped the Husky’s with a season total of four goals, including the match-winner against Stanford to secure the Dawgs a spot in their first Elite 8 in program history.

Michael Gallagher, also a 19 year old defender, had the opportunity to play in nine games during last year’s Sounders U-23 campaign. He totaled 704 minutes of play.

Gallagher also attends the University of Washington as a sophomore, where he saw action in 20 games during the fall season. Gallagher had two assists and was named to the TopDrawSoccer.com National Team of the Week following an assist on the only goal in a 1-0 win against Oregon State that secured the Pac-12 title. During Gallagher’s freshman year, he was named the 30th best freshman by Top Drawer Soccer.

The Sounders U-23 begin the 2014 preseason with a 7pm match against Western Washington University on May 5th at Sumner’s Sunset Stadium.

Season Tickets for the 2014 Sounders U-23 season are on sale on SoundersU23.com for only $60. The 2014 Season Ticket Flex Pack eliminates the risk of missing games. Instead of one ticket specifically associated with each match, with the Sounders U-23 Flex Pack, fans will receive eight tickets, and each of those tickets will be accepted at any match during the 2014 season. It's the ultimate deal in flexibility.

Sounders FC U-23

The Sounders FC U-23 (est.2012) competes in the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League (PDL). The Sounders FC U-23 are independently operated from the Seattle Sounders FC, under the ownership of Lane Smith and Cliff McElroy, with minority owner, Mike Jennings. The club is officially operated with a marketing, branding, and naming affiliation contract with the Seattle Sounders FC. The Sounders FC U-23 franchise has developed more than 15 professional players since the club’s establishment in 2012.

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